Machine and method for removing engines from vehicles

ABSTRACT

The disclosed machines and method are utilized to expeditiously remove the engines, and the transmissions connected thereto, from junked vehicles, such as automobiles, trucks, and the like and are particularly adapted to remove engines-transmissions that are mounted in engine compartments, in which one end of the enginestransmissions extends beyond one end of the engine compartments. The machines include a pair of hydraulically actuated tongs which are adapted to grip the sides of the engine to be removed while the engine is mounted in the engine compartment of the vehicle. The tongs are constructed so as to permit limited, relative pivotal movement between the engine and tongs. The tongs are pivotally mounted on one end of a vertically movable boom structure which, in turn, is mounted on a portable frame adapted to be positioned adjacent to the engine compartment of the vehicle while the engine is being pulled from the engine compartment. The machines also include hold-down members which are used to restrain vertical movement of the vehicle while the engine is being removed and control means for permitting one person to control the entire operation of the machines. During the operation of the improved machines in accordance with the improved method, the engine to be removed is gripped by the tongs and is moved vertically so that the other end of the engine is pulled from its engine mounts. The engine is then pulled, at an angle with respect to the vertical, so that the one end of the engine, and the transmission, are removed from the engine compartment along a substantially straight path. In one of the disclosed machines, the one end of the boom structure is extendable, with respect to the rest of the boom structure, and a pair of forks are mounted on the extendible end of the boom structure adjacent to the tongs so that the machine may also be utilized as a fork lift. In this machine, the tongs and hold-down members are both movable to positions where they do not interfere with the operation of the machine as a fork lift. In the other disclosed machine, the frame may be permanently mounted on a chassis or may be selectively carried by a fork lift truck or the like.

United States Patent Sharp et al.

[54] MACHINE AND METHOD FOR REMOVING ENGINES FROM VEHICLES [72]Inventors: Allen B. Sharp, 1511' N. Jefferson St., PO. Box 592; RichardA. Hull, R. R. 4, both of Ottumwa, lowa 52501 [22] Filed: Oct. 5, 1970[21] Appl. No.: 77,847

52 us. (:1 ..29/403, 29/200 1), 29/427 51 1m. (:1. ....B23q 17/00, B23p19/04, B23p 19/02 581 Field of Search ..29/200 1), 200 P, 200 J, 427,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,239,076 3/1966 Huff et al...29/200 J x 3,289,282 12/1966 Shaffer ..29/200 D PrimaryExaminer-Thomas H. Eager Att0meyMolinare, Allegretti, Newitt & Witcoff 57 ABSTRACT to be removed while the engine is mounted in the enginecompartment of the vehicle. The tongs are constructed so as to permitlimited, relative pivotal movement between the engine and tongs. Thetongs are pivotally mounted on one end of a vertically movable boomstructure which, in turn, is mounted on a portable frame adapted to bepositioned adjacent to the engine compartment of the vehicle while theengine is being pulled from the engine compartment. The machines alsoinclude hold-down members which are used to restrain vertical movementof the vehicle while the engine is being removed'and control means forpermitting one person to control the entire operation of the machines.

During the operation of the improved machines in accordance with theimproved method, the engine to be removed is gripped by the tongs and ismoved vertically so that the other end ofthe engine is pulled from itsengine mounts. The engine is then pulled, at an angle with respect tothe vertical, so that the one end of the engine, and the transmission,are removed from the engine compartment along a s'ubstantially Straightpath.

In one of the disclosed machines, the one end of the boom structure isextendable, with respect to the rest of the boom structure, and a pairof forks are mounted on the extendible end of the boom structureadjacent to the tongs so that the machine may also be'utilized as a forklift. in this machine, the tongs and hold-down members are both movableto positions where they do not interfere with the operation of themachine as a fork lift.

1n the other disclosed machine, the frame may be permanently mounted ona chassis or may be selectively carried by a fork lift truck or thelike.

25 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTED M1822 um sum 1 BF 7 mm Q mm wMACHINE AND METHOD FOR REMOVING ENGINES FROM VEHICLES BACKGROUND ANDSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvedmachine and method for expeditiously removing engines from vehicles andmore particularly, for expeditiously removing the engines and thetransmissions from vehicles, such as automobiles, trucks and the like,which are to be scrapped.

In recent years, the price paid by scrap dealers and processors forjunked vehicles has oftentimes not been enough to justify automobilejunk dealers going to the expense of stripping the junked vehicles andhauling them to the scrap dealers and processor. Consequently, anincreasing number of junked vehicles have not been scrapped but havesimply been stored in junk yards and the like. Aside from being aninefficient use of land, the accumulation of junked vehicles in junkyards presents ecological and scenic problems.

The advent of the car crusher, as described in.U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,413,issued to Allen B. Sharp and Richard A. Hull, and assigned to theassignor herein, has increased the potential profit available in sellingjunked vehicles for scrap since its use permits a greater number ofvehicles to be hauled, per truck load, and

thus has reduced the price of hauling junked vehicles to scrap dealersand processors.

However, the junk dealer must still go to the expense of stripping thejunked vehicles, i.e. removing non-steel parts, such as the engine,transmission, seat cushions, radiator and tires, because in mostinstances, the scrap dealers and processors still demand that thevehicles which they purchase be stripped. Moreover, even if a scrapdealer or processor does not insist that the vehicles be stripped,stripped vehicles generally bring a higher price and in addition, thereis a separate market for engines and transmissions which have beenremoved from the vehicles.

In the past, the expense of stripping junked vehicles has been asignificant factor in determining the profit potential in the sale ofjunked vehicles to scrap dealers or processors, largely because of theamount of manual labor required. In this connection, one of the mosttime consuming, and thus expensive, tasks in stripping a vehicle hasbeen the removal of the engine and transmission.

Previously, various different ways have been used to remove engines fromvehicles. For instance, a fork lift truck has been used to roll thevehicle over so that the engine mounts could be cut by an acetylenetorch or alternatively, so that the engine mounts could be unbolted.After the engine has been freed from its mountings, the engine is thenpried out of the engine compartment by use of the forks on the fork lifttruck (using the vehicle axle as a fixed pivot point for the forks). Inother instances, hoists have been used to lift the engine from thevehicle. Usually, however, the engine mounts have been either cut orunbolted prior to the removal of the engine by the hoist, althoughvehicles have been chained down and a hoist used to tear the enginesfrom the vehicles. Also in the past hoists have been mounted on theupper part of the fork lift truck and the forks were used to restrainthe vehicle from moving vertically while the engine was being removedfrom the vehicle.

The problem with regard to using a fork lift and/or hoist to remove theengine is that generally manual labor is required to free the enginefrom the engine mountings. Also with respect to the use of a hoist, aperson must manually wrap a cable or chain about the engine and connectit to the hoist, and this is generally dirty and difficult work. Evenwhen a hoist has been utilized to tear the engine from the vehicle,manual labor is required to tie down the vehicle. Furthermore, when afork lift or hoist is used to remove engines from automobiles and mosttrucks, the engine is forced or lifted vertically'out of the enginecompartment, and this vertical movement causes the transmission to bumpinto or contact the firewall under which the rear end of thetransmission extends. Frequently this bumping or contact results in thetransmission housing and transmission being broken off and separatedfrom'the engine so that as a result, either the transmission is notremoved from the vehicle or it has to be subsequently removedseparately.

Also in the past, relatively large clam bucket machines have beenutilized to remove engines from vehicles by using the bucket to pry ortear the engine out of the engine compartment. However, the use of thesemachines has been limited because they are quire expensive to purchaseand maintain and because they have the added disadvantage that they havea tendency to tear or rip the body of the vehicle apart, particularlythe portion thereof adjacent to the engine compartment. When the body ofthe vehicle is torn, the body is difficult to handle and of course,parts of the vehicle are oftentimes separated from the vehicle.

In contrast, the improved machine and method of the present inventionmay be utilized to remove engines, and normally the transmissionsconnected thereto, from vehicles expeditiously. During the entire engineremoval operation, the operator of the machine remains at the controlsof the machine, and no manual labor is required on the part of theoperator or any other person to assist in either the engine removaloperation or in connection with one of the preferred embodiments of theimproved machine, in the subsequent loading of the stripped vehicle ontoa car crusher or truck bed. In addition to removing engines andtransmission, the improved machine may also be utilized to strip otherparts, such as, for example, the radiator, and the seats, from thevehicle if desired. The use of the improved machine and method of thepresent invention thus significantly reduces the time and amount ofmanual labor required to remove an engine and transmission from a junkedvehicle and thereby reduces the cost of stripping junked vehicles so asto substantially increase the profit potential in the sale of junkedvehicles to scrap dealers and processors. Moreover, the use of theengine removing machine of the present invention, together with a carcrusher, provides a real economic incentive to strip and haul the junkedvehicles that have been accumulating in junk yards.

More specifically, the improved machine of the present inventionincludes a pair of hydraulically actuated tongs which are adapted toselectively grip the sides of the engine to be removed from a vehicle.The

tongs are constructed so that they may be inserted into the enginecompartment between the sides of the engine and the sides of thecompartment to grip the engine while the engine is still mounted in thevehicle. The tongs have unique pointed ends which permit limitedrelative pivotal movement between the engine and the tongs as the engineis being pulled from the vehicle. The tongs are mounted for pivotalmovement on a backing plate member which, in turn, is mounted on and iscarried by one end of a boom. The boom is mounted at its other end on aportable frame which permits the machine to be moved adjacent to thevehi- I cle from which the engine is to be removed.

The boom is constructed so that the engine can be lifted vertically highenough by the machine so that the engine can be placed on a truck bed orin a motor breaker after the engine has been removed from a vehicle.

During the engine removal operation, the machine is positioned near thefront end of the vehicle and adjacent to the front end of the enginecompartment. The engine is gripped by tongs and is initially lifted sothat the front end of the engine is first broken free from its enginemounts and is moved vertically, with respect to the rear end of theengine, in the engine compartment. When the bottom of the front end ofthe engine is above the top of the radiator, the engine is then pulled,at an angle with respect to the vertical, so that the engine and thetransmissionare pulled out of the engine compartment up over the frontend of the vehicle. By pulling the engine out in this manner, thetransmission may be easily removed from the vehicle with minimal dangerthat the transmission will break away from the engine since there is nocontact between the transmission and any structural portion, such as thefirewall, of the vehicle during the removal operation.

In one embodiment of the machine of the present invention, the end ofthe boom, which supports the backing plate member, is extendible withrespect to the rest of the boom. A pair of forks are mounted on thebacking plate member so that the forks project from the backing platemember in a plan which is perpendicular to the plane in which the tongsare positioned and move. This machine is designed so that it can alsofunction as a fork lift truck as well as an engine puller. This is aparticularly advantageous feature to a person who handles a limitedvolume of junked vehicles. In this machine, the hold-down members andthe tongs are constructed so that they can be moved to a position wherethey will not interfere with the functioning of the machine as a forklift.

Another embodiment of the machine of the present invention is portableand may be mounted either on a chassis or on the forks of a fork lifttruck. This permits this machine to be used by a smaller yard or by aperson who does not need or who does not want to invest in a full-timeengine puller. In this machine, the hold-down members are fixed and theboom is not extendible.

Another advantage of the machine of the present invention is that it maybe ruggedly constructed and that it and its components are relativelysimple in design so that the machine may be operated for long periods oftime and under adverse conditions found in junk yards with only minimalmaintenance. Also as noted above, only one person is required to operatethe machine,

and thus to effect the removal of an engine from a vehicle, and theoperator of the vehicle does not have to dismount from the machineduring the engine removal operation.

Accordingly, it is one of the primary objects of the present inventiontoprovide an improved machine and method for removing engines fromvehicles, and more particularly, to provide an improved machine andmethod for expeditiously removing engines, and the transmissionsconnected thereto, from the engine compartments of vehicles, such asautomobiles, trucks and the like.

Another object of the preset invention is to provide an improved engineremoving machine of the type described wherein the engine to be removedis gripped on its sides by a pair of tongs which are adapted to grip theengine while it is still mounted in the engine compartment of thevehicle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedengine removing machine of the type described wherein the tongs aremounted on one end of a boom so as to permit relative pivotal movementof the tongs with respect to the end of the boom; wherein the other endof the boom is, in turn, mounted on a portable frame for relativepivotal movement with respect to the frame; and wherein the vehicle fromwhich the engine is to be removed is restrained from vertical movementby novel hold-down members which are carried by the machine.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedengine removing machine of the type described wherein the tongs aremounted on an extendible end of the boom; and wherein the extendible endof the boom also has a pair of forks mounted thereon so that the forksare disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane inwhich the tongs are mounted and moved. A related object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved machine of the type describedwherein the tongs and the holddown means are selectively movable topositions wherein they do not interfere with the operation of themachine as a fork lift.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedengine removing machine of the type described wherein the frame ismounted on a chassis; that is adapted to be positioned adjacent to theengine compartment of the vehicle during the engine removal operationwherein the hold-down means are mounted adjacent to one end of thechassis; and wherein the other end of the boom is mounted on the frameat points located between the center line of the chassis and the otherend thereof.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide animproved method of removing engines from vehicles, such as automobiles,trucks and the like, wherein the engine is mounted in an enginecompartment with one end of the engine and the transmission thereforextending out of one end of the engine compartment; wherein the engineis gripped securely and is moved vertically so that the other end of theengine is broken free from its mountings; and wherein the engine andtransmission are then pulled along a second path, disposed at an anglewith respect to the vertical, so that the engine and transmission aremoved out of the engine compartment, over the other end of the enginecompartment.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description of thepreferred embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES In the drawings, the same reference numeralsare used to indicate like parts throughout the FIGURES in which:

FIG. 1 is a side, plan view of an engine removing machine embodying theprinciples of the present invention, with the extended boom and tongsalso being shown, in phantom line, in an engine pulling position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, side plan view of the frame, the hold-downassembly, the boom and tongs utilized in the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top, plan view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial, vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 44in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial, cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG.3; v

FIG. 6 is a plan, end view of the machine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the hydraulic circuit used tocontrol the operation of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a side plan view of another machine embodying the principlesof the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an end plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a side plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 8 shown mountedon a chassis;

" FIG. 12 is a side plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 8 shownmounted on the forks of a fork lift truck; and

FIGS. 13-15 are partial cross-section views showing the steps utilizedin removing an engine from an automobile.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1-6, animproved machine embodying the principles of the present invention isshown generally at 21.

As shown in FIG. 1, the machine 21 includes a chassis or carriage 22having a main frame 23 and a front and rear set of wheels 24 and 25,respectively. A conventional internal combustion engine 26 is mounted onthe chassis 22 between the mid-point of the chassis and the rear end 27thereof. Counterweiglits 28 are mounted on the rear end 27 of thechassis 22 in a conventional manner. The hydraulic system 29 (includinga five spool control valve 30, a hydraulic pump 31, a tank 32, a reliefvalve 33 and a filter 34, as shown in FIG. 7) utilized to control theoperation of the machine 21 is mounted on the chassis 23 under a cover35, with the control valve 30 being positioned adjacent to the steeringwheel 36 so that it may be actuated by the operator of the machine 21while he is seated on the seat 37. The chassis 22, as described above,except for the hydraulic system 29, may be of conventional manufacture,and for example, a chassis which may preferably be used is the chassis,Econmobile Model No. 620B", manufactured by the American Road EquipmentCompany of Omaha, Neb.

A pair of vertical standards or supports 38 and 39 are mounted at theirlower ends at opposite sides of the frame 23 at points spaced slightlyto the rear of the mid-point of the frame. The upper ends 41 of thestanto the standards 38 and 39, about an axis coaxial with the aligned,longitudinal axes of the pins 46 and 47. The upper ends 48 of the beams43 and 44 are attached, as by welding, with the rear end 49 of a boomassembly 51.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the assembly 51 consists of a pair oflongitudinally disposed beams 52 and 53 which are interconnected attheir front ends 54 by a pair of upper and lower transverse, elongatedplate members 55 and 56 and at their rear ends 49 by a transverse beam57, so that as a result, the assembly is rigid.

A longitudinal beam 58, having a generally rectangular cross-section, iscentrally mounted on the assembly 51 with its rear end being attached tothe transverse beam 57. The plates 55 and 56 are secured to and used tosupport the beam 58 adjacent to its front end 59. A conventional, doubleacting hydraulic cylinder 61 is mounted within the beam 58 and issecured at its rear end 62, by a pin 63, to flanges 64 secured to thetransverse beam 57 so that the cylinder 61 may pivot with respect to thebeam 57 within the beam 58.

A second longitudinal beam 65, having a slightly smaller rectangularcross-section than the cross-section of beam 58, has its rear endtelescopically received within the open, front end 59 of the beam 58 sothat it may be extended or retracted with respect to the beam 58. Thepiston rod 66 of the cylinder 61 is secured to beam adjacent its frontend 67 and the cylinder 61 is utilized to effect the extension orretraction of the beam 65 within the beam 58.

As noted above, the beams 43 and 44 and assembly 51 are rigidly securedtogether adjacent to the rear end of the assembly 51. To provideadditional support for the beams 43 and 45 and the assembly 51, a pairof struts 68 and 69 are secured between the beams 43 and 44 and theassembly 51, respectively, as shown in- FIGS. 1 and 2. Additional struts71 are secured between each of the struts 68 and 69 and the assembly 51,adjacent to its rear end 49.

Conventional double acting, hydraulic cylinders 72 and 73 are utilizedto move the beams 43 and 44 and the assembly 51 vertically about thetransverse axis through the pins 46 and 47. Flange subassemblies 74 and75 are secured to the outer sides of beams 52 and 53, respectively,adjacent to the rear ends 49 of the beams. Piston rods 76 and 77 of thecylinders 72 and 73, respectively, are pivotally connected to the flangesubassemblies 74 and 75, respectively, by means of pins 78 and 79.Flanges 81 and 82 are mounted on the upper surface 42 of the frame 23and the lower ends of the cylinders 72 and 73, respectively, areconnected to these flanges by means of pins 83 so that the cylinders maypivotally move with respect to the flanges 81 and A backing platememeber support assembly 84 is mounted on and is carried by the forwardend 67 of the telescoping beam 65. The assembly 84 includes twogenerally J-shaped members 85 and 86 which are disposed in generallyparallel planes and which are mounted on the front ends 67 so that therear portions 87 and 88 extend rearwardly, back over and spaced above,the front end 67 of the beam 65.

A backing plate assembly 89, including a backing or support plate 91, ispivotally connected to and carried by the members 85 and 86 adjacent totheir front ends. More specifically, rearwardly projecting flanges 92and 93 are attached to the rear surface of the plate 91, and theseflanges are pivotally connected, by a pin 94, with the front ends of themembers 85 and 86 so that the plate 91 may pivotally move with respectto the members 85 and 86, and thus the front end 67 of the beam 65,about a transverse axis coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the pin94.

A conventional double acting hydraulic cylinder 95 is carried by theassembly 84 and is mounted between members 85 and 86. The rear end 96 ofthe cylinder 95 is pivotally connected, by a pin 97, to the rearwardlyextending portions 87 and 88 of the members 85 and 86. The piston rod 98of the cylinder 95 is pivotally connected, by a pin 99, to flanges 101which project rearwardly from and are attached to the rear surface ofthe backing plate 91. Actuation of the cylinder 95 causes the plate 91,and thus the entire assembly 89, to be pivotally moved about atransverse axis coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the pin 94.Therefore, as a result of actuation of the cylinders 61 and 95, theplate 91 may be selectively moved longitudinally with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the subassembly 51 and/or pivoted about ahorizontal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the assembly 51.

A pair of identical tongs 102 and 103 are pivotally mounted on the plateassembly 89 adjacent to the lower edge of the plate 91 so that the tongsare disposed and pivotally move in a plane substantially parallel to theplane of the plate 91. More specifically, the upper ends 106 and 107 ofthe tongs 102 and 103 are pivotally mounted, by pins 104 and 105, on therear surface of the plate 91 so as to permit the tongs 102 and 103 topivot about spaced parallel axes which are coaxial with the axes of thepins 104 and 105, respectively. The other ends 108 and 109 of the tongs102 and 103, respectively, are generally pointed so that there issubstantial point contact between these ends of the tongs and the sidesof the engine gripped by the tongs so as to permit limited, relativepivotal movement between the engine and the tongs such as shown inFIG. 1. Conventional double acting, hydraulic cylinders 111 and 112 aremounted on the rear surface of the plate 91 with their upper ends beingpivotally mounted on the upper end of the plate by pins 113 and 114. Thepiston rods 115 and 116 of the cylinders 111 and 112 are pivotallyconnected by pins 117 and 118 to the tongs 102 and 103 at points spacedbetween the ends of the tongs. Longitudinal axes of the pins 117 and 118are parallel to the longitudinal axes of the pins 104 and 105and thedistance between the pins 104 and 117 and between the pins 105 and 118,is less than the distance between the pins 117 and 118 and the otherends 108 and 109 of the tongs. As seen from FIG. 6, the tongs 102 and103 are curved so that the ends 108 and 109 can be brought into contacteven though the pins 104 and are spaced apart from each other. Thisarrangement permits the tongs 102 and 103 to be able to grasp variousdifferent engines including both six cylinder and eight cylinderengines.

A pair of generally L-shaped forks 119 and 121 are mounted on andcarried by the backing plate 91 so that at the one ends 122 and 123 ofthe forks 119 and 121 normally project from the backing plate 91 in aplane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the backing plate 91.The other ends 124 and 125 of the forks are normally disposed in a planeparallel to the plane of the backing plate 91. A pair of channels 126and 127 are mounted on the front surface of the plate 91 so that thechannels are vertically disposed and face forwardly. The upper portionsof the ends 124 and 125 of the forksare positioned within the channels126 and 127 and are pivotally connected to the upper portion of thechannels 126 and 127 by pins128 and 129, respectively. The sides of thechannels 126 and 127 provide support for the forks 119 and 121 againstlateral movement. The forks 1 19 and 121 may be pivoted upwardly,

in a clockwise direction, about the pins 128 and 129 if j the forks,andmore specifically if the ends l22 and 123 thereof, contact the upperportion of, for example, the body of the automobile 131 shown in phantomline, in F10. 1 when the engine 132 is being pulled from the enginecompartment 133 thereof. When the forks 119 and 121 are used to liftmaterials, i.e. when the machine 21 is being used as a fork lift, theends 122 and 123, of course, remain substantially perpendicular to theplane in which the tongs 102 and 103 are disposed and move.

A hold-down assembly 135 is used to prevent the vehicle from which anengine is to be removed from moving vertically during the time theengine is being pulled from the engine compartment of the vehicle. Thehold-down assembly 135 includes two hold-down beams 136 and 137 whichare connected, at their rearward ends 138, to the forward end of cranks139 and 141, respectively. A tubular structural member 142interconnects, and is secured at its ends, to the cranks 139 and 141. Apair of flanges 143 and 144 are at tached to the member 142, adjacent toits ends, and are adapted to be positioned adjacent to flanges 145 and146 which are mounted on the front end 147 of the chassis frame 23. Apair of pins 148 and 149 extend between the flanges 143 and 145 andbetween the flanges 144 and 146, respectively, and pivotally mount thehold-down assembly 135 on the front 147 of the chassis frame 23.

Conventional double acting hydraulic cylinders 151 and 152 are utilizedto move the assembly 135 between the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.More specifically,

the rear ends of the cylinders 151 and 152 are pivotally connected, bypins 153 and 154, to flanges 155 and 156 which are attached to the sidesof the chassis frame 23 at points adjacent to, but spaced forwardly of,the flanges 81 and 82. The rods 157 and 158 of the cylinders 151 and 152are pivotably connected, by pins 159 and 161, to the cranks 139 and 141at points spaced from the member 142 so that actuation of the cylinders151 and 152 causes the hold-down beams 136 and 137 to be pivoted aboutan axis which is coaxial to the aligned axes of the pins 148 and 149.When the holddown assembly 135 is positioned so that the beams 136 and137 are substantially horizontal, as shown in FIG. 1, and are in contactwith the upper surface of the fenders of the automobile 131' from whichthe engine 132 is to be pulled, movement of the automobile is restrictedand restrained in the direction in whichthe engine 132 is being pulledby the machine 21. When the assembly 135 is moved to a position such asshown in FIG. 2, wherein the beams 136 and 137 are substantiallyperpendicular to the upper surface 42 of the chassis frame 23, the beams136 and 137 do not interfere with the operation of the machine 21 as afork lift.

. The hydraulic system 29 utilized to control the operation of the boomtelescope cylinder 61, the boom lift cylinders 72 and 73, the supportplate cylinder 95, the tong cylinders 111 and 112 and the hold-downcylinders 151 and 152 is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7. The actuationof these double-acting cylinders is controlled by a conventional,manually operated, five spool control valve 30 which is the type whichpermits each of the cylinders or pairsof cylinders to be actuatedseparately by connecting one end of the cylinder or cylinders with theoutlet of the pump 31 and while connecting the other end with the tank32. The valve 30 also has a neutral position which blocks flow to andfrom a cylinder or cylinders so as to retain the cylinder or cylindersin a selected position. As noted above, the valve 30 is mounted adjacentto the operator of the machine 21 and permits him to control selectivelyor simultaneously the operation of the cylinders, and thus enables himto remove an engine from a vehicle, without leaving his seat 37 on thechassis 22.

As shown in FIG. 7, the inlet of a conventional pump 31 is connectedwith the fluid supply tank 32 by means of a hydraulic line 162 while theoutlet of the pump 31 is connected with the valve 30 by a hydraulic line163. The conventional relief valve 32 is disposed in the line 163between the pump 31 and the valve 30 and is connected with the tank 32by a hydraulic line 164. The relief valve 32 is the type wherein whenthe pressure in the line 163 exceeds a preset value, the valve opens andconnects the outletof the pump 31 directly to the tank 32 through line164. The valve 30 is connected by a line 165 with the tank 32, whichline is utilized to return hydraulic fluid from the spool valve 30 tothe tank 32. The conventional filter 33 is positioned in the line 165.

A plurality of hydraulic lines or hoses interconnect the cylinders andthe valve 30. More specifically, lines 166 and 167 connect the oppositeends of the cylinder 61 to the valve 30; lines 168 and 169 connectopposite ends of the cylinders 72 and 73 with the valve 30; lines 171and 172 connect the opposite ends of the cylinder 95 with the valve 30;lines 173 and 174 connect opposite ends of the cylinders 111 and 112with the valve 30, and lines 175 and 176 connect opposite of thecylinders 151 and 152 with the valve 30. The lines 166-176 have not beenshown on the other figures herein for the purpose of clarity.

Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, another machine embodying principles of thepresent invention is shown generally at 181. The machine 181 includes alower frame assembly 182 comprising a pair of longitudinal beams 183 and184 which are parallel to but spaced from each other. A transverse beam185 extends between, and is secured at its opposite ends to, the rearends 186 and. 187 of the beams 183 and 184, respectively. A secondtransverse beam 188 extends between the beams 183 and 184 and is securedto the lower surfaces 189 of the beams at points between the ends of thebeams. The forward ends 191 and 192 of the beams 183 and 184 function asthe hold-down members or beams for the machine 181. In other words, thelower surfaces 189 of the ends 191 and 192 of the beams are adapted tocontact the vehicle from which engine is to be removed adjacent to theengine compartment and to prevent movement of the vehicle in thedirection in which the engine is being pulled during the engine removaloperation. The'hold-down members 191 and 192 used in machine 181 differfrom the hold-down beams 136 and 137 used with machine 21 in that theformer are fixed and cannot be moved with respect to the frame assemblyfrom their generally horizontal position.

A pair of parallel, spaced beams 193 and 194 are pivotally mounted onthe transverse beam 185. More specifically, flanges 195 and 196 areattached to the lower ends 197 and 198 of the beams 193 and 194,respectively, and are positioned adjacent to vertically projectingflanges 199 and 201 attached to the beam 185. A pin 202 extends betweenthe flanges 195 and 199 and the flanges 196 and 201 so as to mount thebeams 193 and 194 on the transverse beam 185 and so as to permit thebeams 193 and 194 to pivot about a transverse axis coaxial with the axisof the pin 202. Two transverse braces 203 and 204 extend between thebeams 193 and 194 to hold the beams rigid.

A vertically disposed beam 205 is pivotally connected to the upper ends206 of the beams 193 and 194 for relative pivotal movement between thebeam 205 and the beams 193 and 194. The beam 205 has a pair of flanges207 and 208 attached to its rear surface and these flanges arepositioned adjacent to flanges 209 and 211 which are attached to theupper ends 206 of the beams 193 and 194. Pins 212 and 213 extend betweenthe flanges 207 and 209 and the flanges 208 and 211, respectively, so asto pivotally connect upper ends 206 of the beams 193 and 194 to the beam205 between its ends. A transverse brace number 214 extends between theflanges 207 and 208 to hold them rigid.

A pair of vertically projecting parallel flanges 215 and 216 areattached to the upper surfaces of the beams 193 and 194, respectively. Aconventional, double-acting hydraulic cylinder 217 has its rearward endpivotally connected to the beams 193 and 194 midway between the ends ofthe beams by a pin 218 which cooperates with the flanges 215 and 216.The piston rod 219 in the cylinder 217 is pivotally connected, by a pin221, with the flanges 207 and 208 adjacent to the upper end of the beam205. Actuation of the cylinder 217 causes the beam 205 to be pivotallymoved in a vertical plane about an axis which is coaxial with thetransverse member 188 by a pin 223 which extends through verticallyprojecting flanges 224 attached to the beam 188. The piston rod 225 ofthe cylinder 222 is pivotally connected to the beams 193 and 194 by apin 226 which extends between the beams. Actuation of the cylinder 222results in pivotal movement of the beams 193 and 194 in a vertical planeabout an axis coaxial with the axis of the pin 202.

As best shown in FIG. 9, the beam 205 has two pairs of laterallyextending, parallel flanges 227 and 228 which are attached to theopposite sides of the beam 205 between the ends thereof. Two other pairsof laterally extending, parallel flanges 229 and 231 are attached to theopposite sides of the beams 205 adjacent to the lower end 232 of thebeam 205. A pair of tongs 233 and 234 are pivotally connected, at theirupper ends, to the flanges 229 and 231 by a pair of pins 235 and 236which are parallel to, but spaced from each other.

The tongs 233 and 234 are structurally identical to the tongs 102 and103 utilized with the machine 21 and, like tongs 102 and 103, havepointed lower ends 237 and 238 so as to permit point contact between thetongs and the sides of the engine to be removed.

A pair of conventional, double-acting hydraulic cylinders 239 and 241are used to move the tongs 233 and 234 about axes which are coaxial withthe axes of the pins 235 and 236 and which are arranged so that thetongs move in a plane which is parallel to the plane of the beam 205.The upper ends of the cylinders 239 and 241 are pivotally connected tothe flanges 227 and 228, respectively, by means of pins 242 and 243. Thepiston rods 244 and 245 of the cylinders 239 and 241, respectively, arepivotally connected to the tongs 233 I and 234, respectively, by pins246 and 247. Like in machine 21, the rods 244 and 245 are connected tothe tongs 233 and 234 at points closer to the upper ends of the tongsthan the lower ends 237 and 238. Also while the upper ends of the tongs233 and 234 are spaced from each other, the tongs are shaped so that theends 237 and 238 may be brought into contact. The hydraulic system usedto actuate the cylinders 217, 222, 239 and 241 is substantiallyidentical to the system 29 shown in FIG. 7, except that the valve 30need only have three spools instead of five. The system permits thecylinders 217 and 222 to be actuated individually or simultaneously.

The machine 181 is adapted to be mounted semi-permanently on a chassisof a vehicle or it can be temporarily mounted on another implement. InFIG. 11, the machine 181 is shown semi-permanently mounted on a chassis248. The chassis 248, as shown, is articulated, i.e. the front portion249 is pivotally connected at 251 to the rear portion 252, and themachine 181 is mounted on the front portion 249. The chassis 248includes two sets of wheels 253 and 254, a conventional internalcombustion engine 255, an operators seat 256 and a steering wheel 257.The hydraulic controls used to control the operation of the cylinders217, 222, 239 and 241 are positioned adjacent to the wheel 257 so thatthey may be actuated by the operator without leaving the seat 256. Thechassis 248 may be of the type manufactured by the Vermeer ManufacturingCompany of Pella, Iowa, and designated by Model No. M-50.

When the machine 181 is mounted on a chassis, such as the chassis 248,the frame assembly 182 is positioned so that the ends 191 and 192 of thebeams 193 and 194 extend beyond the front end of the chassis. While theends 191 and 192 of the beams 193 and 194 are disposed in asubstantially horizontal plane, they are, as shown in FIG. 11, slightlyinclined with respect to the horizontal so as to permit the chassis 248to be positioned adjacent to the front of the vehicle 131 from which theengine 132 is to be removed. In other words. the slight angulardisposition of the ends 191 and 192 permits the beams to be slid up overthe fenders of the vehicle 131.

The machine 181 may also be mounted on an implement such as a fork lifttruck, as shown at 258 in FIG. 12. More particularly, the machine 181 ismounted on and carried by the forks 259 of the truck 258 by means ofbrackets, or other conventional fastening means,

261 extending between the beam and the forks. In FIG. 12, the forwardends of the forks are also disposed in apertures, not shown, formed intransverse beam 188, and this, together with the brackets 261, assuresthat the machine 181 does not move with respect to the forks 259 duringthe engine removal operation.

OPERATION The machines 21 and 181 both operate to effect the removal ofan engine from a vehicle to be scrapped in basically the same manner.Initially the machine is moved so that it is adjacent to the end,usually the front end, of the vehicle adjacent to the enginecompartment, i.e. adjacent to the engine to be removed. In

other words, and in the case of an automobile or most trucks, themachine is positioned adjacent to the front end of the automobile ortruck. The hold-down beams are positioned so that they are disposedabove the portion of the vehicle, usually the fenders, adjacent to thesides of the engine compartment.

The tongs may be first used to remove the hood or engine cover from thevehicle. The tongs are then spread apart so that they can be insertedwithin the engine compartment between the sides of the engine and thesides of the compartment. In some cars and trucks, there may notinitially be sufficient space to permit the insertion of the tongs, andin such instances, the tongs can be partially inserted and then moved toforce the fender walls outwardly so as to provide additional space forthe further insertion of the tongs. After the tongs have been placedadjacent to the sides of the engine, they are moved together so that thelower pointed ends thereof contact securely the sides of the engine witha substantially point contact between the ends of the tongs and thesides of the engine.

As best shown in FIGS. 13 through 15, the tongs are then movedvertically until the front end 262 of the engine 132 is moved verticallyto a position where the bottom of the front end 262 is above the top ofthe radiator 263. This vertical movement of the front end 262 causes theengine 132 to be pulled or broken away from the front engine mounts.Also during this vertical movement of the front end 262, the rear end264 of the transmission 265 connected to the engine has been pivoteddownwardly with respect to the gripping point between the engine and thetongs. Since in most vehicles, there are no structural members beneaththe en- After the engine has been moved'to the position shown generallyin FIG. 14, the engine and transmission are moved along a second pathwhich is disposed at an angle with respect to the vertical. Thismovement of the engine, as shown in FIG. 15, permits the engine to bepulled directly out of the engine compartment over the radiator 263without having the transmission drag or bump against the firewall 266 soas to minimize the chances of breaking the transmission during the timethe engine is being pulled from the engine compartment. After the engine131 has been pulled along the second path far enough so-that the rearend 2640f the transmission 264 is forward of the firewall 266, theengine may be again moved vertically. As noted above, the machine can beused to place the removed engine directly ontoa motor breaker or the bedof a truck.

When the machine 21 is utilized as a fork lift, the tongs 102 and 103are moved upwardly so that their ends 108 and 109 are disposed above thelower edge of the plate 91. Likewise, the hold-down beams 136 and 137can be moved so as to be vertically disposed such as shown in FIG. 2.The machine 21, functioning as a fork lift, can be utilized to movejunked vehicles around the yard and to load the stripped vehicles onto acar crusher and onto the bed of a truck. While the extendible boomstructure is particularly useful when the machine is utilized as aforklift since it permits the forks 122 and 123 to be placed on the ground,extension and retraction of the extendible boom can also be used to movethe engine 131 along its second path, i.e. at an angle with respect tothe vertical.

With regard to the machine 181, vertical movement of an engine isaccomplished by actuation of the cylinder 222, while actuation of thecylinder 217 causes movement of the engine at an angle with respect tothe vertical. Also of course, different angular movements of the enginemay be accomplished by substantially simultaneous actuation of thecylinders 217 and 222.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that the improved machine andmethod of the present invention provide a facile means for removing anengine and transmission from a vehicle to be scrapped. The use of thepresent invention significantly reduces the time, and thus expense, ofremoving enginesand as a result increases the profit potential ofselling scrapped vehicles to scrap dealers and processors.

However, as noted above, in addition to being useful in pulling enginesfrom vehicles, the machine of the present invention may also be used toremove the seats, and in most cases, the radiators and gas tanks, fromthe vehicles to be stripped. For example, to remove the seat cushions,the tongs are first used to tear off the roof of the vehicle so as toenable the tongs to then grip the cushions and pull them out through thetop of the vehicle. In addition, the machines described herein can beused to assist in removing wheels from the vehicles although additionalattachments may be needed. Thus, the improved machine of the presentinvention may be used to even further reduce the amount of manual laborrequired to strip vehicles to be scrapped.

Also it should be apparent to those skilled in this art thatmodifications could be made to the machines 21 and 181 without departingfrom the scope of the present invention. Various different chassis couldbe used to support the frame structure and the boom arrangement could beconstructed or be arranged differently. Furthermore, the extendible boomused in machine 21 could be omitted if it was not desired to be able toposition the forks adjacent to the ground. Therefore, while theforegoing is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, it is to be understood that all equivalents obviousto those skilled in this art are to be included within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

lclaim:

'1. An improved machine for removing engines mounted in vehicles, suchas automobiles and trucks, which are to be scrapped, comprising:

frame means;

means. for securely gripping an engine mounted in a vehicle, thegripping means including means for permitting relative, pivotal movementbetween the gripping means and the engine 'while gripping means gripsthe engine; first control means for selectively causing the grippingmeans to grip the engine; pulling means mounted on the frame means andconnected with the gripping means for pulling the engine from thevehicle, the pulling means having sufiicient power to pull the enginefrom its mountings in the vehicle; second control means for controllingthe operation of the pulling means; and I hold-down means forrestraining at least the portion of the body of the vehicle, adjacent tothe engine, from moving generally in the direction in which the engineis being pulled by the pulling means while the engine is being removedfrom the vehicle.

2. An improved machine as described in claim 1 wherein the engine to beremoved is mounted in an engine compartment in the vehicle; wherein thevehicle is initially positioned so that access to the engine in theengine compartment may be had from above the vehicle; and whereininitially, at least a portion of the gripping means extends into theengine compartment and grips the engine while the engine is still in theengine compartment.

3. An improved machine as described in claim 2 wherein the pulling meansis arranged with respect to the vehicle so as to pull the enginevertically and at an angle with respect to the vertical.

4. An improved machine as described in claim 2 wherein the grippingmeans grips the sides of the engine in the engine compartment.

5. The improved machine as described in claim 2 wherein the frame meansis carried on wheeled carriage means for facile movement of the framemeans with respect to the vehicle; and wherein during removal of enginefrom the vehicle, the frame means is positioned adjacent to the enginecompartment of the vehicle.

6. An improved machine as described in claim 2- wherein the enginecompartment is defined by a front end, a rear end, and sides; whereinthe engine has a transmission connected to one end thereof and isarranged in the engine compartment so that the transmission extendsbeyond one end of the engine compartment; and wherein the pulling meansis arranged with respect to the vehicle so as to be able to pull atleast a portion of the transmission from the vehicle with the engine.

7. An improved machine as described in claim 6 wherein the enginecompartment is adjacent to the front end of the vehicle; wherein theengine has a transmission connected to the rear end thereof and isarranged in the engine compartment so that the transmission extendsbeyond the rear end of the engine compartment; and wherein the pullingmeans initially moves the frontend of the engine upwardly along a first,substantially vertical path so as to pull the front end of the enginefree from the engine mountings adjacent to the front end of the engineand then moves the engine along a second path, generally disposed at anangle with respect to the vertical, so as to pull the rear end of theengine free from the engine mountings adjacent to the rear end of theengine whereby the engine and at least a portion of the transmission canbe removed from the engine compartment.

8. An improved machine as described inv claim 7 wherein the rear end ofthe engine compartment is at least in part defined by a fire wallseparating the engine compartment from the rest of the vehicle; whereinat least a part of the transmission extends beneath the fire wall;wherein the frame means is positioned adjacent to the front end of theengine compartment while the engine is being removed from the enginecompartment of the vehicle; wherein the pulling means initially movesthe front end of the engine vertically along the first path until thebottom portion of the front end of the engine is above the upper edge ofthe front end of the engine compartment and then pulls the engine alongthe second path, which is substantially straight and which extends awayfrom the rear end of the engine compartment, at least until the engineis clear of the ends and sides of the engine compartment.

9. An improved machine as described in claim 4 wherein the grippingmeans includes a backing member and first and second tongs, with each ofthe tongs having one end mounted on the backing member for pivotalmovemenbrelative to the backing member, so that the tongs may be movedbetween a first, engine gripping position wherein the other ends of thetongs are positioned so as to be able to grip the engine to be pulledfrom the vehicle and a second position wherein the other ends of thetongs are spaced from one another.

10. An improved machine as described in claim 9 wherein means forpermitting relative pivotal movement between the gripping means and theengine includes a relatively pointed tip on the other, engine grippingends of each of the first and second tongs, which pointed tips arearranged so as to provide substantially point-contact between the other,engine gripping ends of the tongs and the sides of the engine when thegripping means grips the engine.

11. An improved machine as described in claim 10 wherein the axes aboutwhich the tongs pivot are parallel; wherein the tongs are disposed inand move in a common plane; wherein the tongs have a relatively narrowcross-section so that the other ends of the tongs may be fit downbetween the sides of the engine compartment and the sides of the engineso as to enable the tongs to be inserted between the sides of the engineand the sides of the engine compartment while the engine is mounted inthe engine compartment; wherein hydraulic cylinder means are connectedbetween the backing member and the tongs and are arranged to move thetongs between their first and second positions upon actuation of thehydraulic cylinder means; and wherein the control means controls theoperation of the hydraulic cylinder means.

12. An improved machine as described in claim 9 wherein the pullingmeans includes at least one boom pivotally mounted at one end on theframe means and pivotally connected at its other end with the grippingmeans; wherein a first hydraulic cylinder means is positioned betweenthe frame means and the boom so as to pivotally move the boom verticallyabout its one end; wherein the gripping means is carried by the boom;and wherein a second hydraulic cylinder means is connected with andcarried by the boom and arranged so as to move the gripping means withrespect to the boom.

13. An improved machine as described in claim 12 wherein the other endof the boom is telescopically received on the central portion of theboom; wherein a third hydraulic cylinder means is positioned on the boombetween the central portion thereof and the other end and is arranged tomove the other end of the boom between retracted and extended positions.

14. An improved machine as described in claim 12 wherein the frame meansis mounted on a wheeled, motor-driven carriage for facile movement ofthe frame means, and wherein the control means is mounted on thecarriage and controls the operation of the first and second hydrauliccylinder means.

15. An improved machine as described in claim 12 wherein the boom isarranged so that the gripping means is positioned generally adjacent toone end of the frame means; wherein the point of pivotal connectionbetween one end of the boom and the frame means is spaced generallybetween the midpoint of the frame means and the other end thereof andabove the horizontal plane of the engine to be removed; and wherein theother end of the boom has a pair of fork members attached thereto.

16. An improved machine as described in claim 2 wherein the hold-downmeans includes at least one beam mounted so as to extend over theportion of the vehicle adjacent to the engine compartment while theengine is being removed from the engine compartment and thereby preventthe vehicle from moving vertically.

17. An improved machine as described in claim 16 wherein the hold-downmeans are selectively movable from a first substantially horizontalposition wherein the beam is adapted to extend over the portion of thevehicle adjacent to the engine compartment to a second, substantially.vertical position; and wherein hydraulic cylinder means are positionedbetween the frame and the hold-down means to move the holddown meansbetween its first and second positions.

18. An improved machine as described in claim 8 wherein the grippingmeans includes a backing member and first and second tongs; wherein eachof the first and second tongs is mounted, adjacent to one end, on thebacking member for pivotal movement, relative to the backing member,between a first, engine gripping position wherein the other ends of thetongs are positioned adjacent to each other so as to be able to grip thesides of the engine to be pulled from the vehicle and a second positionwherein the other ends of the tongs are spaced from one another; whereinthe pulling means includes at least one boom pivotally mounted, at oneend, on the frame means and pivotally connected at its other end to thebacking member; wherein a first hydraulic cylinder means is positionedbetween the frame means and the boom so as to pivotally move the boomvertically about its one end; and wherein a second hydraulic cylindermeans is positioned between the boom and the backing member and arrangedso as to move the backing member with respect to the other end of theboom about a substantially horizontal axis. I

19. An improved machineas described in claim 18 wherein the axes aboutwhich the tongs pivot-are parallel; wherein the tongs are disposed inand move in a common plane; wherein the tongs are constructed so thatthe tongs can fit about the engine; wherein the tongs have a relativelynarrow cross-section so that the other ends of the tongs may be fit downbetween the sides of the engine compartment and the sides of the engineso as to enable the tongs to be inserted between the sides of the engineand the sides of the .engine compartment while the engine is mounted inthe engine compartment; and wherein the hold-down means includes a pairof beams which are mounted at one end adjacent to one end of the framemeans and which are adapted to have their other ends extend over theportion of the vehicle adjacent to the sides of the engine compartmentwhile the engine is being removed from the engine compartment so as toprevent the vehicle from moving vertically with respect to the framemeans. I

20. An improved machine as described in claim 18 wherein means forpermitting relative pivotal movement between the gripping means and theengine includes a relatively pointed tip on the other ends of each ofthe first and second tongs, which pointed tips are arranged so as toprovide substantially point-contact between the other ends of the tongsand the sides of the engine when the gripping means grips the engine.

21. An improved machine as described in claim 19 wherein the secondhydraulic cylinder means pivotally moves the backing member about asubstantially horizontal axis wherein means for permitting relativepivotal movement between the gripping means and the engine includes arelatively pointed tip on the other ends of each of the first and secondtongs, which pointed tips are arranged so as to provide substantiallypoint-contact between the other ends of the tongs and the sides of theengine when the gripping means grips the engine; wherein the boom isarranged so that the backing member is positioned adjacent to one end ofthe frame means; wherein the one end of the boom is pivotally connectedto the frame means at a point spaced from the one end of the framemeans; and wherein the point of pivotal connection between one end ofthe boom and the frame means is spaced between the mid-point of theframe means and the other end thereof and above the horizontal plane ofthe engine to be removed.

22. An improved machine as described by claim 21 wherein the frame meansis carried on wheeled carriage means for facile movement of the framemeans with respect to the vehicle; and wherein during removal of enginefrom the vehicle, the frame means is positioned adjacent to the enginecompartment of the vehicle; wherein the control means is carried by thecarriage and controls the operation of the hydraulic cylinder means.

23. An improved machine as described in claim 22 wherein the backingmember has a pair of fork members attached thereto, which fork membersproject from the backing member in a plane substantially perpendicularto the plane in which the tongs are disposed; wherein each of the forkmembers is generally L- shaped and includes a first portion whichprojects from the backing member and which is disposed in a plansubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the backing member andadjacent to the lower edge of the backing member, and a second portionwhich is disposed ad-' jacent to the backing member and which isattached, at its upper ends, to the backing member so as to permit eachof the fork members to pivotally move upwardly with respect to thebacking member; and wherein when the tongs are in their second position,the other ends of the tongs are located above the plane in which thefork members are disposed.

24. An improved machine as described in claim 23 wherein each of thefork members is generally L- shaped and includes a first portion whichprojects from the backing member and which is disposed in a planesubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the backing member andadjacent to the lower edge of the backing member, and a second portionwhich is disposed adjacent to the backing member and which is attachedat its upper ends, to the backing member so as to permit each of thefork members to pivotally move with respect to the backing member;wherein when the tongs are in their second position, the other ends ofthe tongs are located above the plane in which the fork members aredisposed; wherein the other end of the boom is telescopically receivedon the central portion of the boom; wherein a third hydraulic cylindermeans is positioned on the boom between the central portion thereof andthe other 'end and is arranged to move the other end of the boom betweenretracted and extended positions; wherein fourth hydraulic cylindermeans are positioned between the frame and the hold-down means to movethe hold-down means between its first and second positions; and whereinthe one end of the engine compartment is at least in part defined by afire wall separating the engine compartment from the rest of thevehicle; wherein at least a part of the transmission extends beneath thefire wall; and wherein the frame means is positioned adjacent to theother end of the engine compartment while the engine is being removedfrom the engine compartment of the vehicle.

25. An improved method of removing an engine from the engine compartmentof a vehicle, such as an automobile or truck, which is to be scrappedand which has the engine compartment located adjacent to the front endof the vehicle, wherein the engine compartment is defined by a frontend, a rear end and side walls and is arranged so as to permit access tothe engine from above the vehicle, wherein the engine has a transmissionattached to the rear end of the engine and extends beyond the rear endof the engine compartment and wherein the means used to grip the enginepermits relative pivotal movement between the gripping means and theengine while gripping means is gripping the engine, comprising the stepsof:

gripping the sides of the engine securely between the ends thereof;pulling the engine so as to move the front end of the engine upwardlyalong a first substantially vertical path so that the bottom of theengine, adjacent to the front end, is moved above the front end of the

1. An improved machine for removing engines mounted in vehicles, such asautomobiles and trucks, which are to be scrapped, comprising: framemeans; means for securely gripping an engine mounted in a vehicle, thegripping means including means for permitting relative, pivotal movementbetween the gripping means and the engine while the gripping means gripsthe engine; first control means for selectively causing the grippingmeans to grip the engine; pulling means mounted on the frame means andconnected with the gripping means for pulling the engine from thevehicle, the pulling means having sufficient power to pull the enginefrom its mountings in the vehicle; second control means for controllingthe operation of the pulling means; and hold-down means for restrainingat least the portion of the body of the vehicle, adjacent to the engine,from moving generally in the direction in which the engine is beingpulled by the pulling means while the engine is being removed from thevehicle.
 2. An improved machine as described in claim 1 wherein theengine to be removed is mounted in an engine compartment in the vehicle;wherein the vehicle is initially positioned so that access to the enginein the engine compartment may be had from above the vehicle; and whereininitially, at least a portion of the gripping means extends intO theengine compartment and grips the engine while the engine is still in theengine compartment.
 3. An improved machine as described in claim 2wherein the pulling means is arranged with respect to the vehicle so asto pull the engine vertically and at an angle with respect to thevertical.
 4. An improved machine as described in claim 2 wherein thegripping means grips the sides of the engine in the engine compartment.5. The improved machine as described in claim 2 wherein the frame meansis carried on wheeled carriage means for facile movement of the framemeans with respect to the vehicle; and wherein during removal of enginefrom the vehicle, the frame means is positioned adjacent to the enginecompartment of the vehicle.
 6. An improved machine as described in claim2 wherein the engine compartment is defined by a front end, a rear end,and sides; wherein the engine has a transmission connected to one endthereof and is arranged in the engine compartment so that thetransmission extends beyond one end of the engine compartment; andwherein the pulling means is arranged with respect to the vehicle so asto be able to pull at least a portion of the transmission from thevehicle with the engine.
 7. An improved machine as described in claim 6wherein the engine compartment is adjacent to the front end of thevehicle; wherein the engine has a transmission connected to the rear endthereof and is arranged in the engine compartment so that thetransmission extends beyond the rear end of the engine compartment; andwherein the pulling means initially moves the front end of the engineupwardly along a first, substantially vertical path so as to pull thefront end of the engine free from the engine mountings adjacent to thefront end of the engine and then moves the engine along a second path,generally disposed at an angle with respect to the vertical, so as topull the rear end of the engine free from the engine mountings adjacentto the rear end of the engine whereby the engine and at least a portionof the transmission can be removed from the engine compartment.
 8. Animproved machine as described in claim 7 wherein the rear end of theengine compartment is at least in part defined by a fire wall separatingthe engine compartment from the rest of the vehicle; wherein at least apart of the transmission extends beneath the fire wall; wherein theframe means is positioned adjacent to the front end of the enginecompartment while the engine is being removed from the enginecompartment of the vehicle; wherein the pulling means initially movesthe front end of the engine vertically along the first path until thebottom portion of the front end of the engine is above the upper edge ofthe front end of the engine compartment and then pulls the engine alongthe second path, which is substantially straight and which extends awayfrom the rear end of the engine compartment, at least until the engineis clear of the ends and sides of the engine compartment.
 9. An improvedmachine as described in claim 4 wherein the gripping means includes abacking member and first and second tongs, with each of the tongs havingone end mounted on the backing member for pivotal movement relative tothe backing member, so that the tongs may be moved between a first,engine gripping position wherein the other ends of the tongs arepositioned so as to be able to grip the engine to be pulled from thevehicle and a second position wherein the other ends of the tongs arespaced from one another.
 10. An improved machine as described in claim 9wherein means for permitting relative pivotal movement between thegripping means and the engine includes a relatively pointed tip on theother, engine gripping ends of each of the first and second tongs, whichpointed tips are arranged so as to provide substantially point-contactbetween the other, engine gripping ends of the tongs and the sides ofthe engine when the gripping means grips the engine.
 11. An improvedmachine as describeD in claim 10 wherein the axes about which the tongspivot are parallel; wherein the tongs are disposed in and move in acommon plane; wherein the tongs have a relatively narrow cross-sectionso that the other ends of the tongs may be fit down between the sides ofthe engine compartment and the sides of the engine so as to enable thetongs to be inserted between the sides of the engine and the sides ofthe engine compartment while the engine is mounted in the enginecompartment; wherein hydraulic cylinder means are connected between thebacking member and the tongs and are arranged to move the tongs betweentheir first and second positions upon actuation of the hydrauliccylinder means; and wherein the control means controls the operation ofthe hydraulic cylinder means.
 12. An improved machine as described inclaim 9 wherein the pulling means includes at least one boom pivotallymounted at one end on the frame means and pivotally connected at itsother end with the gripping means; wherein a first hydraulic cylindermeans is positioned between the frame means and the boom so as topivotally move the boom vertically about its one end; wherein thegripping means is carried by the boom; and wherein a second hydrauliccylinder means is connected with and carried by the boom and arranged soas to move the gripping means with respect to the boom.
 13. An improvedmachine as described in claim 12 wherein the other end of the boom istelescopically received on the central portion of the boom; wherein athird hydraulic cylinder means is positioned on the boom between thecentral portion thereof and the other end and is arranged to move theother end of the boom between retracted and extended positions.
 14. Animproved machine as described in claim 12 wherein the frame means ismounted on a wheeled, motor-driven carriage for facile movement of theframe means, and wherein the control means is mounted on the carriageand controls the operation of the first and second hydraulic cylindermeans.
 15. An improved machine as described in claim 12 wherein the boomis arranged so that the gripping means is positioned generally adjacentto one end of the frame means; wherein the point of pivotal connectionbetween one end of the boom and the frame means is spaced generallybetween the midpoint of the frame means and the other end thereof andabove the horizontal plane of the engine to be removed; and wherein theother end of the boom has a pair of fork members attached thereto. 16.An improved machine as described in claim 2 wherein the hold-down meansincludes at least one beam mounted so as to extend over the portion ofthe vehicle adjacent to the engine compartment while the engine is beingremoved from the engine compartment and thereby prevent the vehicle frommoving vertically.
 17. An improved machine as described in claim 16wherein the hold-down means are selectively movable from a firstsubstantially horizontal position wherein the beam is adapted to extendover the portion of the vehicle adjacent to the engine compartment to asecond, substantially vertical position; and wherein hydraulic cylindermeans are positioned between the frame and the hold-down means to movethe hold-down means between its first and second positions.
 18. Animproved machine as described in claim 8 wherein the gripping meansincludes a backing member and first and second tongs; wherein each ofthe first and second tongs is mounted, adjacent to one end, on thebacking member for pivotal movement, relative to the backing member,between a first, engine gripping position wherein the other ends of thetongs are positioned adjacent to each other so as to be able to grip thesides of the engine to be pulled from the vehicle and a second positionwherein the other ends of the tongs are spaced from one another; whereinthe pulling means includes at least one boom pivotally mounted, at oneend, on the frame means and pivotally connected at its other end to thebacking member; wherein a first hydraulic cylinder meAns is positionedbetween the frame means and the boom so as to pivotally move the boomvertically about its one end; and wherein a second hydraulic cylindermeans is positioned between the boom and the backing member and arrangedso as to move the backing member with respect to the other end of theboom about a substantially horizontal axis.
 19. An improved machine asdescribed in claim 18 wherein the axes about which the tongs pivot areparallel; wherein the tongs are disposed in and move in a common plane;wherein the tongs are constructed so that the tongs can fit about theengine; wherein the tongs have a relatively narrow cross-section so thatthe other ends of the tongs may be fit down between the sides of theengine compartment and the sides of the engine so as to enable the tongsto be inserted between the sides of the engine and the sides of theengine compartment while the engine is mounted in the enginecompartment; and wherein the hold-down means includes a pair of beamswhich are mounted at one end adjacent to one end of the frame means andwhich are adapted to have their other ends extend over the portion ofthe vehicle adjacent to the sides of the engine compartment while theengine is being removed from the engine compartment so as to prevent thevehicle from moving vertically with respect to the frame means.
 20. Animproved machine as described in claim 18 wherein means for permittingrelative pivotal movement between the gripping means and the engineincludes a relatively pointed tip on the other ends of each of the firstand second tongs, which pointed tips are arranged so as to providesubstantially point-contact between the other ends of the tongs and thesides of the engine when the gripping means grips the engine.
 21. Animproved machine as described in claim 19 wherein the second hydrauliccylinder means pivotally moves the backing member about a substantiallyhorizontal axis wherein means for permitting relative pivotal movementbetween the gripping means and the engine includes a relatively pointedtip on the other ends of each of the first and second tongs, whichpointed tips are arranged so as to provide substantially point-contactbetween the other ends of the tongs and the sides of the engine when thegripping means grips the engine; wherein the boom is arranged so thatthe backing member is positioned adjacent to one end of the frame means;wherein the one end of the boom is pivotally connected to the framemeans at a point spaced from the one end of the frame means; and whereinthe point of pivotal connection between one end of the boom and theframe means is spaced between the mid-point of the frame means and theother end thereof and above the horizontal plane of the engine to beremoved.
 22. An improved machine as described by claim 21 wherein theframe means is carried on wheeled carriage means for facile movement ofthe frame means with respect to the vehicle; and wherein during removalof engine from the vehicle, the frame means is positioned adjacent tothe engine compartment of the vehicle; wherein the control means iscarried by the carriage and controls the operation of the hydrauliccylinder means.
 23. An improved machine as described in claim 22 whereinthe backing member has a pair of fork members attached thereto, whichfork members project from the backing member in a plane substantiallyperpendicular to the plane in which the tongs are disposed; wherein eachof the fork members is generally L-shaped and includes a first portionwhich projects from the backing member and which is disposed in a plansubstantially perpendicular to the plane of the backing member andadjacent to the lower edge of the backing member, and a second portionwhich is disposed adjacent to the backing member and which is attached,at its upper ends, to the backing member so as to permit each of thefork members to pivotally move upwardly with respect to the backingmember; and wherein when the tongs are in their second position, theotheR ends of the tongs are located above the plane in which the forkmembers are disposed.
 24. An improved machine as described in claim 23wherein each of the fork members is generally L-shaped and includes afirst portion which projects from the backing member and which isdisposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of thebacking member and adjacent to the lower edge of the backing member, anda second portion which is disposed adjacent to the backing member andwhich is attached at its upper ends, to the backing member so as topermit each of the fork members to pivotally move with respect to thebacking member; wherein when the tongs are in their second position, theother ends of the tongs are located above the plane in which the forkmembers are disposed; wherein the other end of the boom istelescopically received on the central portion of the boom; wherein athird hydraulic cylinder means is positioned on the boom between thecentral portion thereof and the other end and is arranged to move theother end of the boom between retracted and extended positions; whereinfourth hydraulic cylinder means are positioned between the frame and thehold-down means to move the hold-down means between its first and secondpositions; and wherein the one end of the engine compartment is at leastin part defined by a fire wall separating the engine compartment fromthe rest of the vehicle; wherein at least a part of the transmissionextends beneath the fire wall; and wherein the frame means is positionedadjacent to the other end of the engine compartment while the engine isbeing removed from the engine compartment of the vehicle.
 25. Animproved method of removing an engine from the engine compartment of avehicle, such as an automobile or truck, which is to be scrapped andwhich has the engine compartment located adjacent to the front end ofthe vehicle, wherein the engine compartment is defined by a front end, arear end and side walls and is arranged so as to permit access to theengine from above the vehicle, wherein the engine has a transmissionattached to the rear end of the engine and extends beyond the rear endof the engine compartment and wherein the means used to grip the enginepermits relative pivotal movement between the gripping means and theengine while gripping means is gripping the engine, comprising the stepsof: gripping the sides of the engine securely between the ends thereof;pulling the engine so as to move the front end of the engine upwardlyalong a first substantially vertical path so that the bottom of theengine, adjacent to the front end, is moved above the front end of theengine compartment; and so that the front end of the engine becomesbroken free from its mountings; and then pulling the engine and at leasta portion of the transmission out of engine compartment along a secondpath, disposed at an angle with respect to the vertical so that theengine and at least a portion of the transmission is moved out over thefront end of the engine compartment until the engine is removed from theengine compartment.